Let's meet Olivia!
Meet the R4R Runners #82
Welcome to the 82nd edition of the Meet the R4R Runners, where we get to meet Olivia!
Technically… Olivia hasn’t attended an R4R… but she’s been a driving force behind some exciting news and she’s a testament to our community leading itself. So, without further ado, let’s meet her!
What is your name?
Olivia Alexander
Where are you from?
Canberra
What's your favourite thing about Canberra?
The beautiful parks and wide open spaces we have here to enjoy.
How did you hear about R4R and when did you first attend?
I heard about it through my brother-in-law Ben Alexander who got my husband involved. I haven’t attended a run myself as I was pregnant hence why I cannot wait for S4R to begin.
Strolling for Resilience is all about people getting together as a community, exercising at a pace that suits them, creating social connections to build mental resilience and, of course, a coffee afterward.
What's your favourite thing about R4R?
It’s a space for like-minded people to come together, share in some exercise, chat and perhaps walk away with a new connection.
What would you like to see R4R do?
I am simply excited to watch the community form and I would love to see S4R expand to perhaps include another day/time slot.
What's the longest you've ever run?
10km.
Are you planning on taking part in any races or events soon or are there any just gone?
Not as of yet however I would love to participate in the Melbourne Marathon again (10km).
Which three people (alive or dead) would you like to run or walk 6km with?
My husband - Hugh Alexander, My grandmother - Elsie June Connelly (passed) My father - Macleay Francis Connelly
What does resilience mean to you?
As I say to my toddler - “we are resilient! When we fall down we get back up and we are stronger because of it.” Resilience is finding that inner strength and choosing to power on regardless of the challenges we face.
When you look back on the hardest moment/s in your life, is there anything you wish you could have told yourself?
In reference to motherhood and those early days when you’re in the trenches, I would have told and still do tell myself a few things on those hard days… “It’s just not my time, my time is coming.. one day your babies won’t need you like they do now, and one day you’ll have so much spare time you won’t know what to do with yourself.” I also remind myself that periods of time where it feels hard are often for a short moment and it’s fleeting.
Thanks, Olivia! Great answers.
